VALLEY SPORTS HISTORY
2013
2013
• After making a valiant attempt at a comeback, the Mon Yough Pony League All-Stars were eliminated from the Pony League World Series losing 8-7 to a team from Japan. The Mon Yough boys scored four runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying run on third base with one out but couldn’t manage to bring that run home at Lew Hays Field. Mon Yough coach Scott Callaway credited his opponents. “That final out was a great play by their first baseman … He made a major league play.”
• Opinions about whether to take their teams away to camp or to stay at home vary among the Mon Valley football coaches. Charleroi, which normally trains at home, opted to go to camp this year, while Ringgold decided to stay in town. Belle Vernon Area decided to stay home but Monessen will continue its tradition of spending both weeks of training at home. Second-year Charleroi coach Ed Jenkins is a big believer in training out of town. “I believe in it immensely. We needed to come together as a group and we felt by going away, we could accomplish that.”
2004
• Monessen lineman Peter Faulks was slumped against the gymnasium wall, almost half asleep. Mick Williams and a dozen other players packed into a hallway. The exhausted football players relished the chance to rest while rain poured outside. It was their first chance to stop since camp opened. First-year coach Andy Pacak is working his team hard with intense cardiovascular conditioning drills. Pacak said, “We practice tired and build off the cardio work to get stronger and stronger. We want to finish the game as strong as we can and this is how we do it. Our biggest lineman finished the run in 21 minutes this morning.”
• The Mon Valley Bronco All-Stars defeated a team from Marietta, Ohio, in the title game to become tournament champions. The team members are Jeffrey Francia, Nick Bolias, Shane Osborne, Dante Altemare, Clarence Law, Fred Garcia, Clinton Webb, Wade Stinnett, Christian Kosko, Michael Fleming, Shawn Sheponik and Corey Martini. The team is managed by John Kosko and coached by Fred Garcia Sr. and Kurt Stinnett.
1993
• Four teams advanced to the Belle Vernon- Rostraver Softball playoffs. Bentleyville Independence Club, Lowber, Dees and B.G. Gymnastics came away with wins to move into the second round which begins Monday. Bentleyville rolled over Elite, 19-4; Lowber beat Corning, 26-10; Dee’s scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to nip JAT, 17-16; and B.G. Gymnastics scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Belle Vernon Presbyterian, 13-12.
• The Monessen Croatian Federal Union Lodge 194 will be hosting its 19th annual CFU softball tournament. A field of 19 teams, including four from the local lodge, will battle it out in City Park Field in Monessen and Cooks Field in Belle Vernon. Joining Monessen on the field for the double elimination event will be perennial powerhouses Duquesne and Versailles. Also competing will be teams from Canton and Akron, Ohio, East Pittsburgh, Smoke Run and Conway.
